Archive: 1st ID

The air was clear over Contingency Operating Base Basra June 27, 2010, as the Iraqi commanders of the Basra Air Base and the 70th Squadron prepped their CH 2000 reconnaissance airplane for a first-ever joint mission with U.S. AH-64 Apaches.

Soldiers of the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade often greet one another with the unit greeting of "Wings of Victory," but that phrase will take on new meaning with the completion of Task Force 12's own Victory Chapel July 1 at Contingency Operating Base Adder, Iraq.
As U.S. Army Europe Command's premier aviation brigade nears the end of its tour, it is leaving behind a legacy of great relationships and successful partnerships with various units in Iraq. One significant legacy it will leave for those who will rotate into country is that of a place for spiritual guidance and resiliency at Victory Chapel.

During an age when contractors provide a majority of support and sustainment functions on bases throughout Iraq, Soldiers seldom have to worry about fixing the air conditioner in their quarters, ensure the latrines are in working order, or make force protection improvements around the base, but at Contingency Operating Station GarryOwen in Maysan Province, Soldiers' power still reigns supreme.

FORT RILEY, Kan. - "It's more just getting them educated without them really knowing that they are learning," said Jeanne Schantz about the 2010 Camp 911 June 16 and 17at Camp Brown south of Abilene, Kan.

The Army's top noncommissioned officer visited Soldiers in southern Iraq to see how they are living in a deployed environment and to answer questions about the way ahead as the drawdown in Iraq approaches.
Sgt. Maj. of the Army Kenneth Preston, the Army's senior enlisted member, visited Soldiers of United States Division-South at Contingency Operating Base Basra, Patrol Base Minden, and the Shalamcha Point of Entry along the Iraq-Iran border.

Soldiers of Troop D's maintenance section invited members of the 3rd Battalion, 32nd Iraqi Army Brigade, to COB Delta for joint training. The troopers seized the opportunity to share the importance of doing a proper PMCS.

While the concept of Iraqi partnership centers around the many projects, missions, and events involving U.S. Forces and Iraqi Security Forces, there is another layer to developing relationships that is becoming stronger - the partnership between the various ISF elements themselves.

The 1st Infantry Division holds a Soldier of the Quarter Competition every three months to determine the best Soldiers and noncommissioned officers in United States Division - South. The Soldiers compete in several events, both physical and technical, to prove themselves the best in their field.

17th Fires Brigade Soldiers show their replacements the ropes and prepare their equipment for redeployment to Fort Lewis, Wash. The 17th FiB turned over authority for U.S. efforts in Basra to the 3rd Bde, 4th Inf Div, on June 17.

A transfer-of-authority ceremony marked a significant reduction of forces in southern Iraq as the 17th Fires Brigade relinquished control over operations in Basra Province to the Soldiers of 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division.

Army Reserve fire departments from various units throughout the United States finished two weeks of training June 18. The training was conducted by the Kansas Fire and Rescue Training Institute - part of the University of Kansas continuing education - for Army firefighters to acquire their firefighter certification. Classes offered were airport firefighter, pumper driver operator, aircraft rescue firefighting, driver operator, fire instructor 1 and fire officer 1.

State, local and Fort Riley officials celebrate the beginning of the contruction that will tranform highway K-18 to a four-land road between Junction City, Fort Riley and Manhattan, Kansas. The project was funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Soldiers serving on Camp Taji, Iraq trained Iraqi troops on the fundamentals of marksmanship with the M16 rifle, June 15. The training was part of a continued effort by the U.S. to phase out the Iraqi Army's use of the Soviet-era AK-47 Kalashnikov assault rifle.

The 10th Iraqi Army Division's commando battalion taught fellow Iraqi soldiers how to conduct air assault operations at Contingency Operating Station Garryowen, Iraq, June 9. The unit training was assisted by several U.S. units who provided oversight and helped with scheduling the partnership training done by the Iraqis

Soldiers with the 17th Fires Brigade, deployed to Basra, Iraq, and 21 others from various units throughout Iraq and Afghanistan met for a week-long Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training course at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.

The buzz of electric motors fills the air around the Contingency Operating Site Kalsu airfield in the late afternoons. Welcome to the Raptor Race Track, the home for radio-controlled wheeled racing at COS Kalsu.

Soldiers with Military Transition Team 5214 taught Iraqi soldiers from the 14th Iraqi Army's 52nd Brigade, 14th Division, basic range operations and assisted in making adjustments to the Iraqi soldiers' M-16 and M-4 rifles at a range here June 5, 2010.

Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 377th Field Artillery Regiment, 17th Fires Brigade, newly promoted to the rank of sergeant, commemorated the rite of passage and honored the memory of prior noncommissioned officers in an NCO Induction ceremony at the Contingency Operating Base chapel May 31, 2010.

Soldiers from the 663rd Ordnance Company (EOD) recently conducted training and a joint demolition operation with the 1st Bomb Disposal Company, 14th Iraqi Army Division at the Shaiba Training Center in Basra, Iraq.

When Col. Kent Goff isn't sporting his Army Combat Uniform during weekend battle assemblies, he is likely decked out in a military uniform from another era. The 412th Theater Engineer Command's intelligence and security officer is also a military history buff who participates in civil war re-enactments.

Soldiers with the 14th Iraqi Army Division, 52nd Brigade conducted a series of searches, dubbed Operation Carpet Ride May 29, 2010. Using U.S. intelligence, the Soldiers had an important target- an alleged bomb-making factory.

EPINAL, France - Soldiers of the Joint Multinational Training Command (JMTC) journeyed to France to take part in a memorial ceremony May 30 to honor and remember those who gave their life during the second World War.

Gen. James D. Thurman became the 18th commanding general of U.S. Army Forces Command during a ceremony on on Fort McPherson, Ga., June 3. Thurman succeeded Gen. Charles C. Campbell, who retired after 40 years of service.

The commander of the Iraqi Air Force's 70th Squadron met with the commander of the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade and Task Force 12 at Contingency Operating Base Adder to plan the next steps for joint training under the United States Forces - Iraq partnership initiative.

Service members from units across COB Adder paid their respects to veterans, past and present, at the Memorial Day Ceremony held May 31. The 12thCombat Aviation Brigade supported the ceremony with a helicopter flyover.

After 40 years of Army service dating back to the Vietnam War, Gen. Charles C. Campbell, commander of U.S. Army Forces Command, will retire, during a combined retirement/change of command ceremony, June 3.

When Soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division's Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion got the opportunity to raise their right hand 5,000 feet up in the air in a Black Hawk helicopter with Maj. Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, 1st Inf. Div. commander, reciting the oath of enlistment, they flew at the chance.

Just like the promise tied to the sea of oil that resides below Iraq's surface, the potential for building new industries in the country is great, yet remains untapped.
That potential is not lost on the vendors from 73 companies that attended the Basra Iraq Trade Expo, a four-day international trade exhibition held at the Basra International Airport May 24-27, 2010. And while oil didn't overshadow conversations, there is no question that petroleum-related industries will drive Iraq's economy going forward.

The final chapter of a three-year tradition at Camp Bucca ended May 15, 2010, with a night of boxing, door prizes and a well-deserved farewell.
Commonly referred to as Bucca Boxing, the final Morale, Welfare and Recreation fight night included Soldiers from the 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.

The river delta of southern Iraq is the livelihood for many Iraqis in the area, providing important waterways for commerce and an all-important source of irrigation for farmers.
Recognizing the importance of these river highways, Riverine Squadron (RIVRON) 1 began their six-month deployment from Little Creek, Va., in early May with their main focus on securing these routes.

The role of U.S. Forces in Iraq continues to evolve with the launch of Operation New Dawn later this year, and the majority of efforts will be re-focused on the responsible transfer of authority to Iraqi Security Forces.

For two months, the U.S. Navy Detachment 1, Riverine Squadron (RIVRON) 1, deployed to Contingency Operating Site Garry Owen partnered with Iraqi Police 1st Lt. Hissinin, commander of the 50-man Special River Police Company, providing hands-on training in every aspect of river patrolling operations.

Ideally, the bond between a father and son can endure time, distance and separation. At least that has been the case for the Soriano family.
"The opportunity to visit my son has been the best part of this deployment so far," said Command Sgt. Maj. Jorge O. Soriano.

As Iraqi Security Forces take over not only the current security of their country, but the training of those who will do so for generations after them, U.S. forces are doing all they can to prepare them to do so.

Story about U.S. Naval Special Operations members training Iraqi Security Forces on securing rivers and other waterways in southern Iraq.
Waterways are an all-important source of trade and commerce as well as irrigation in the region.

Leaders of the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, met May 14, 2010, at Contingency Operating Site Kalsu for the second Provincial Reconstruction Team conference of the unit's current deployment to southern Iraq.

With the increase in partnership missions and training between United States Forces - Iraq and the various elements of the Iraqi Security Forces, a recent event showed just how well the ISF have developed their capabilities and how far they have progressed.

Iraqi Security Force public information officers met with their U.S. counterparts at Contingency Operating Base Basra May 19, 2010, for classes designed to improve their public affairs and media relations capabilities.

The U.S. military has a long-standing reputation of excelling at reaching its goals, and many service members join the military to give themselves a sense of direction.
Twenty years ago, one Soldier embarked on a journey that would contribute to not only his success, but the successes of those he commands as well.

As the mission in Iraq has transitioned to one of fostering political stability and bolstering the Iraqi Security Forces, Military Transition Teams, who embed with and advise the ISF, have played an integral role.

The 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment, "Bulldogs" have been working diligently to build upon the existing security, safety measures and living conditions at Joint Security Station Jenkins since arriving in late April 2010.

As well as advising and assisting the Iraqi government and security forces, Soldiers of the 203rd Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division's material redistribution team play an important role in the organization of supplies and equipment of the brigade.

A joint team of Iraqi Police from the 6th Emergency Response Unit and Soldiers from 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, secured and recovered a disabled U.S. helicopter May 16, 2010, after it was forced to make an emergency landing the day before.

In the spirit of building camaraderie through friendly competition, the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, sponsored an eight-team Armed Forces Day soccer tournament at Contingency Operating Site Kalsu, May 14 and 15, 2010.

Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Bostick covered pressing personnel challenges with a group of senior Army leaders who can help resolve the issues during the annual Army Forces Command G-1 conference in Atlanta, May 19. As the U.S. Army's Deputy Chief of Staff G-1, he is responsible for developing, managing and executing manpower and personnel plans, programs and policies for the entire Army. Issues discussed included increasing dwell time, reducing the stress of deployments on soldiers and their families, determining the future size of the Army, managing officer and enlisted promotions, and stopping sexual harassment, suicides and drug and alcohol abuse.

The Army is recalling 44,000 combat helmets made by ArmorSource and Rabintex. If you were issued one of these helmets, you must turn it in to the Central Issue Facility to be issued a new helmet. Read on to learn how you can tell if your helmet is part of the recall.

A new test project along the Iran-Iraq border could herald the arrival of clean, safe, electric power that is needed at numerous outposts and border forts manned by the Iraqi Department of Border Enforcement.